Quick answer
Every Level 3 upgrade leaves the shared pool three Tarcores poorer
Level 1 → 2 gives one Tarcore. Level 2 → 3 requires six Tarcores up front, then returns three. You therefore need six available to press the button, but the permanent net cost is three. GamingBolt GameSpot
This is why the resource feels unusually limited: leveling one stone generates one Tarcore, while maxing one consumes the equivalent reward from three Level 2 upgrades.
How the Tarcore economy works
The one-time Level 2 rewards from a fixed collection cannot fund Level 3 for that entire same collection. The arithmetic—not a missing menu or hidden XP requirement—is the core bottleneck.
Are Tarcores actually finite?
In a normal campaign, treat them as a constrained upgrade resource. Current guides document Level 1 → 2 Tempering as the standard source and do not show a repeatable enemy drop or ordinary vendor farm. GamingBolt
That does not prove a lifetime hard cap across unlimited New Game Plus cycles. “Constrained in one progression cycle” is better supported than “the game contains exactly X Tarcores forever.”
Can you max every Tarstone?
Not from the Level 2 rewards of the same fixed set alone: every stone contributes one Tarcore, but every Level 3 stone permanently consumes three. Community discussion points to repeated cycles or extra one-off sources as possible ways to extend the pool, but the reviewed reports do not establish a complete, independently reproduced all-stones route. Reddit discussion
Does New Game Plus solve the shortage?
Current player reports do not describe NG+ as an easy renewable Tarcore farm. One active discussion says repeated runs can add Tarcores through Franz-related progression, but that claim lacks a documented cycle count and independent reproduction. Treat NG+ as a possible extension—not a proven fix for the economy. Reddit player reports
Does killing Franz help?
Players report that killing Franz can unlock Tarforge functions early and may provide an additional Tarcore-related benefit. A separate player test warns that doing so may increase later weapon-upgrade material costs. Neither claim changes the standard six-required, three-returned Level 3 formula. Reddit player test
Because the possible downside affects broader weapon progression, killing Franz solely to patch a Tarcore shortage is a poor default recommendation.
How to plan Level 3 upgrades
- Level broadly to Level 2.You improve more options and generate the Tarcores that make Level 3 possible.
- Keep six available.The net cost is three, but the Tarforge still checks for six before the final Temper.
- Max build-defining effects first.Permanent Infusions and effects central to your main weapon or playstyle are stronger candidates than occasional utility.
- Avoid speculative upgrades.No respec or Level 3 refund is documented in the reviewed sources.
This page explains scarcity, not a universal ranking. Use the builds section when comparing which effects deserve the limited pool.
Short answers
Frequently asked questions
How many Tarcores does a Level 3 upgrade really cost?
You need six Tarcores available to start the upgrade. Three are returned afterward, so the net Tarcore cost is three.
Can Tarcores be farmed from normal enemies?
Current documented guides do not identify a repeatable normal-enemy Tarcore farm. The standard source is Tempering a Tarstone from Level 1 to Level 2.
Do the three returned Tarcores enter inventory automatically?
Players report that Tarforge output may need to be collected manually. Check around the forge after Tempering before assuming the Tarcores are missing. Reddit player report
Can a Level 3 upgrade be refunded?
The reviewed material does not document a Tarstone respec or Tarcore refund system. Treat a Level 3 choice as permanent unless a later patch adds one.